The 11th Engineers Conclave, jointly organised by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) in Hyderabad, commenced on September 26, 2024. The aim of the two-day annual conclave is to deliberate on two strategic priorities i.e., ‘Additive Manufacturing for Defence Applications’ and ‘Defence Manufacturing Technologies’. The event, being held at Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) of DRDO, brings together engineers, scientists, academicians and industry leaders to discuss emerging technologies & advancements in indigenisation.
The conclave was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission Dr Anil Kakodkar and Guest of Honour, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat. DRDL Director (Hyderabad) Shri GA Srinivasa Murthy, Director General, Missiles and Strategic Systems Shri U Raja Babu, and INAE President Prof Indranil Manna addressed the gathering.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCSD to present “Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” Exhibition Series to showcase developments and achievements of China (with photos) LCSD to present “Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” Exhibition Series to showcase developments and achievements of China (with photos) ******************************************************************************************
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the “Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” Exhibition Series, at the Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH) and the Hong Kong Science Museum (HKScM) from tomorrow (September 27) to illustrate the important developments and achievements of China over the past 75 years from a variety of perspectives. Admission to the exhibitions is free. Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition today (September 26), the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that China is a force to be reckoned with in the areas such as economy, manufacturing, trade, technology, infrastructure, culture and sports. Today, China is the world’s second-largest economy, the largest industrial manufacturing country, the largest goods trading country and the largest foreign exchange reserve holding country. These are the results of the people’s forging ahead steadfastly and also the pride of all Chinese people. This exhibition series is one of the signature events organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, to promote the spirit of patriotism in the community. Its three exhibitions, namely “Leapfrog Development”, “Scientific Breakthroughs” and “Era of Intelligence”, showcase the country’s modernisation process from the perspectives of economy, education, technology, culture, sports and people’s livelihood. It aimed to enhance the understanding of the public, especially the younger generation, of the achievements of New China over the past 75 years, thereby enhancing their sense of national identity and sense of belonging. Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Yin Zhonghua; Vice President and Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology, Mr Meng Qinghai; Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR Mr Fang Jianming; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, Mr Li Dahong; the Convenor of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, Ms Starry Lee; the Chairperson of the History Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Joshua Mok; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu. The “Leapfrog Development” exhibition, located in the Lobby, 1/F, HKMH, presents the developments and achievements of the economy, infrastructure, culture, sports and ecological conservation initiatives of China through text and images. It also displays medals won by athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games to showcase their spirit of perseverance and hard work. They include the first gold medal won by Hong Kong, China windsurfer Ms Lee Lai-shan at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics for the HKSAR, the gold medal won by So Wa-wai, representing Hong Kong, China in the men’s 100m races (T36) at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, the gold medal won by Chinese diver Ms Guo Jingjing in the women’s three-metre springboard event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the silver medal won by Ms Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, representing Hong Kong, China in the women’s 100m freestyle events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. For details of the exhibition, please visit hk.history.museum/en/web/mh/exhibition/75A-Exhibition.html. The country’s scientific and technological endeavours have made remarkable progress over the past 75 years. The “Scientific Breakthroughs” exhibition at the 2/F Exhibition Hall, HKScM is divided into three parts, namely “The Lifeblood of the People’s Republic of China”, “Silent Thunder”, and “A Chip-driven Patriotic Heart”, based on three significant historical events: the 65th anniversary of the discovery of the Daqing Oil Field, the 60th anniversary of the successful detonation of China’s first atomic bomb, and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the State Preeminent Science & Technology Award. The exhibition showcases China’s outstanding achievements in science and technology through graphics, videos, objects, and interactive exhibits, demonstrating the patriotic spirit and steadfast beliefs of Chinese scientists. Highlight exhibits include the Core Sample from Songliao Basin No.3 Stratigraphic Well (replica), which is important historical evidence for the discovery of the Daqing Oil Field; the immersive space “Big Bang in the East”, which explores significant historical events such as the launch of the Dongfeng-1 missile, atomic bomb detonation, hydrogen bomb detonation, and the launch of the Dongfanghong-1; and the model of the Zuchongzhi Superconducting Quantum Computer, developed independently by a Chinese research team, which is the only one in China and one of only two globally to achieve “quantum advantage”. The “Era of Intelligence” exhibition at the Special Exhibition Hall, G/F, HKScM introduces the transformative technology of artificial intelligence, which has experienced rapid developments in recent years. The application of artificial intelligence in daily life will also be demonstrated at the exhibition. The exhibition features a total of 22 exhibits, with about 70 per cent of them being interactive. These include the immersive zone “Gravitational Battlefield”, which is based on Mainland writer Liu Cixin’s science fiction novel “The Three-Body Problem” and integrates artificial intelligence and mixed reality technologies; a simulation of autonomous driving; and an artificial intelligence model named Master Guess, with which visitors can train and play paper-scissors-stone. Visitors can engage directly with multiple artificial intelligence models to understand how they function in various scenarios such as chess playing, music composition, painting and the implementation of mixed reality. For details of the “Scientific Breakthroughs” and “Era of Intelligence” exhibitions, please visit hk.science.museum/en/web/scm/exhibition/75A2024.html. The exhibition series is presented by the LCSD. The “Leapfrog Development” exhibition is organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and the Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, in collaboration with the HKMH, and supported by the Academy of Chinese Studies and the Hong Kong China Sports Alliance. The “Scientific Breakthroughs” exhibition is organised by the HKScM and the China Science and Technology Museum, in collaboration with the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the China Association for Science and Technology and the Beijing – Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre. The “Era of Intelligence” exhibition is organised by the HKScM, in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, the Hong Kong Institution of Science and Innovation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and SenseTime. The exhibitions will run until February 5 next year. Apart from museums, a display titled “Trendsetting Travel in China”, which showcases the remarkable achievements of the motherland through a stunning array of media photographs and a relaxed curatorial approach, will be held at the covered walkway of Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park from September 28, providing members of the public an additional opportunity to learn more about the country’s achievements. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.
Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 18:55
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal concluded his productive 3-day visit to Australia (23-26 September, 2024) today.
The Minister co-chaired the 19th Joint Ministerial Commission meeting with Senator The Hon. Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism of Australia at Government House in Adelaide on August 25, 2024. Discussions focussed on areas of cooperation and economic priorities for India and Australia; implementation of Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) initiatives; progress on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations etc. The Ministers reiterated the target of achieving AUD 100 billion bilateral trade by 2030. They also discussed enhancement of cooperation at multilateral and other regional forums- G20, IPEF and WTO, including the Domestic Services Regulation issue.
At the Joint Press Conference after the meeting, the Minister announced the opening of an Investment, Trade, Technology and Tourism (ITTT) office in Sydney which will have representatives of Invest India, NICDC, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation and DGFT, including industry bodies like CII and FICCI. Minister Farrell announced a new grant of AUD 10 million for Australian businesses, organisations and universities to boost cooperation with India. Under the new grant, AUD 5 million will be extended to Australian organisations working on projects that boost trade and innovation, cultural ties and community leaders, and a further AUD 5 million for scholars and fellowships to support Australian universities to host Indian students in their research, on shared challenges.
Both sides agreed that the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Future Made in Australia’ initiatives are complementary and present opportunities to both sides to work together. In this context, Minister mentioned that India marked yesterday, the 10th anniversary of Prime Minister’s flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative, aimed at scaling domestic manufacturing in India. The initiative had created employment opportunities, boosted Indian exports and improved the lives of millions of people in India.
The Governor of South Australia, The Hon Frances Adamson AC, hosted a lunch for Minister and the accompanying delegation at the Government House. The lunch was attended by The Hon Joe Szakacs MP Minister for Trade and Investment and Minister for Local Government of South Australia and Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, reflecting the strong bipartisan support to India-Australia partnership.
Later in the day, Minister Goyal accompanied by Minister Farrell visited the Australian Space Agency at Lot Fourteen Innovation precinct where they interacted with Australian space companies, including, Space Machine Company, which is working with New Space India Limited (NSIL) to launch the largest satellite built in Australia onboard an Indian Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. This Mission, named MAITRI exemplifies the close friendship between the two countries and marks a significant milestone in the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The Minister’s visit will impart further momentum to the enhanced economic and commercial engagement between India and Australia. The visit allowed both sides to review progress of CECA and implementation of ECTA initiatives. In addition, several interactions with Australian and Indian businesses in Sydney will lead to enhancement of trade and investment ties between the two countries.
Headline: ICC joins Private Sector Humanitarian Alliance as founding member at UNGA
As the world’s largest business organisation, ICC will leverage its global network in 170 countries to help respond to global disasters and humanitarian crises, in line with its purpose to enable peace, prosperity and opportunity for all.
“We must see improved integration of the private sector into the humanitarian architecture to sustain peace and security in the face of increasingly complex global challenges.”
ICC Secretary General, John W. H. Denton AO.
Despite the generosity of the international community, humanitarian emergencies remain a major challenge today. Globally, 1 in 11 people face malnutrition and food insecurity. More than 130 million people have been forced to leave behind their homes, families, and their lives in search of safety. With far-ranging consequences, sometimes for generations to come.
PSHA is designed to bridge the divide between the humanitarian ecosystem and global businesses. With its unique platform for humanitarian coordination, PSHA has established the technological infrastructure needed to manage complex humanitarian efforts among different stakeholders, both public and private. This ensures vital resources reach those who need them most.
Reshaping humanitarian efforts through technology
PSHA’s innovative platform integrates cutting-edge data analytics, crisis intelligence, and algorithmic matching of business resources with humanitarian needs. This unique use of technology helps deliver humanitarian aid as swiftly and efficiently as possible. Improving the efficiency of humanitarian efforts not only redirects vital help toward those in need – it also ensures donors that their donations are used wisely.
In its first year of operation, PSHA has already demonstrated its potential to reshape global giving. PSHA successfully directed cross-sector coordination during the Caribbean hurricane season, saving lives. It led efforts to mobilise private sector resources for the Sudan crisis. It has also strengthened private sector support for humanitarian efforts in the Middle East.
PSHA is incubated at Schmidt Futures and operationalised under Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. It has signed Memoranda of Understanding with USAID, the US Department of State, and The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). Private sector partners include Google, BCG, Vodafone Foundation, Mastercard, Henry Schein International, Miyamoto International and Flexport.
Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung today attended a Government Career Fair at the Polytechnic University (PolyU) and called on those who aspire to serve the community to join the civil service.
The fair was the first to have taken place at PolyU. Thirty government bureaus and departments, covering over 50 civil service grades, took part.
Besides the general grades, professional grades and the disciplined services were included in the fair.
In view of the courses offered by PolyU, Mrs Yeung outlined that the Government has arranged for officers from relevant departments to introduce their grades to students.
She said the fair highlighted civil service job opportunities related to surveying and maritime studies and would give PolyU students who are studying these subjects a better understanding of the relevant grades.
The Government has strengthened its recruitment efforts in recent years. Mrs Yeung stressed that a number of grades have seen a noticeable increase in the number of applicants.
She highlighted that the number of candidates applying for Administrative Officer (AO), Executive Officer II (EOII) and other grades under the joint recruitment exercise in 2023-24 surged by nearly 40%, adding that this illustrated that job seekers view a career in the Government as attractive.
The Government has launched a joint recruitment exercise for the appointment of four civil service grades, namely AO, EOII, Assistant Trade Officer II and Transport Officer II. Students graduating in 2025 or 2026 may also apply this year.
Mrs Yeung reminded those interested in applying for four civil service graduate posts to submit their applications by 11.59pm on October 4.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense 2
Question: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship 9701 has withdrew from Xianbin Jiao and the PCG said it would send another ship to the reef and would not let it become a second Huangyan Dao. Philippine Defense Secretary said that if China removes the Philippine ship grounded at Ren’ai Jiao, it would be an act of war. What’s your comment?
Zhang Xiaogang: The Philippine side recently pulled out PCG 9701 which had been illegally anchored in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao. It is the only right way forward and is conducive to restoring peace and stability in relevant waters. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters, including Ren’ai Jiao and Xianbin Jiao. We will take firm countermeasures against any act that infringes China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Actions that violate the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and undermine regional peace and stability are unwelcomed. We urge the Philippine side not to have illusion and miscalculation and stop making any risky and futile provocations.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense 2
Question: There are growing interaction between the Chinese and US militaries in recent time. The commanders of the PLA Southern Theatre Command and US Indo-PACOM had a video phone call. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China attended the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and the two sides had the 18th Defense Policy Coordination Talks. What’s your comment on the current China-US mil-mil relations and what interaction the two sides will have going forward?
Zhang Xiaogang: President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a successful meeting in San Francisco last November, and the two leaders talked on the phone this April. They have set the direction for a sound, stable and sustainable China-US relationship. At present, there is a stabler momentum in the overall and defense relations between China and the US. The two militaries maintain high-level strategic communication, policy communication, institutionalized dialogues and exchanges in specialized fields. These engagements could help enhance mutual understanding, avoid miscalculation, and manage and control risks.
We require the US side to recalibrate its strategic perception on China, return to a sensible and practical China policy, and respect China’s major concerns. The US should make concerted efforts with China in the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to stabilize and improve the mil-mil relationship through candid, effective and constructive dialogues and cooperation.
Last month, a delegation led by Brendan Crabb, head of the Burnet Institute, a prestigious medical research body, met Anthony Albanese in the prime minister’s parliament house office.
Its members, who included Lidia Morawska from Queensland University of Technology, a world-leading expert on air quality and health, also blitzed ministers and staffers. They were pitching for the federal government to spearhead a comprehensive policy on clean indoor air and for the issue to be put on the national cabinet’s agenda.
They pointed out to Albanese that indoor air is an outlier in our otherwise comprehensive public health framework. Despite people spending the majority of their time inside, indoor air quality is mostly unregulated, in contrast to the standards that apply to, for example, food and water.
There are multiple health and economic reasons to be concerned about this air quality but a major one is to limit the transmission of airborne diseases, such as COVID.
For many of us, COVID has become just a bad memory, despite its lasting and mixed legacies. For instance, without the pandemic, fewer people would now be working from home. More small businesses would be flourishing in our CBDs. Arguably, fewer children would be trying to catch up from inadequate schooling.
While the media have largely lost interest in COVID, and people are now rather blase about it, the disease is still taking a toll.
In 2023 there were about 4,600 deaths attributed to COVID, and almost certainly more in reality, given Australia that year had 8,400 “excess deaths” (defined as actual deaths above expected deaths).
Up to July this year there were 2,503 COVID deaths.
In nursing homes, whilst survival rates from COVID are much improved with vaccination and antivirals, as of September 19, there were 117 active outbreaks with 59 new outbreaks in that past week. There had been 900 deaths for the year so far.
Long COVID has become a serious issue, with varying respiratory, cardiac, cognitive and immunological symptoms. It is estimated between 200,000 and 900,000 people in Australia currently have long COVID.
The Albanese government is presently awaiting the report it commissioned into how the COVID pandemic was handled.
The inquiry has looked at the performance of the Morrison government, but its terms of reference didn’t include the states. That limits its usefulness, but there were politics involved, given high profile state Labor governments.
Not that the state and territory leaders of that time are around anymore (apart from the ACT’s Andrew Barr). Those faces that became so familiar from their daily news conference have disappeared into the never-never: Victoria’s Dan Andrews, Western Australia’s Mark McGowan, New South Wales’ Gladys Berejiklian, Queensland’s Annastacia Palaszczuk.
COVID variously made or tarnished leaders’ reputations. McGowan, in particular, reached stratospheric heights of popularity. Andrews deeply divided people.
In general, however, COVID boosted support for leaders and increased public trust in them and in government. In times of uncertainty, the public looked to known institutions and to authority figures. Since then, trust has eroded again.
Experts came into their own during the pandemic but then found themselves in the middle of the political bickering. In retrospect, some of them were wrong.
In the broad, especially in terms of the death rate and the economy, Australia navigated the crisis well. But drill down, and the story is more complex, as documented by two leading economists, Steven Hamilton (based in Washington and connected to the Australian National University) and Richard Holden (from UNSW).
In their just-published book, Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism, their bottom-line conclusion is that Australia was very impressive in its (vastly expensive) economic response but it was a mixed picture on the health side.
While Australia was quick out of the blocks in closing the national border and bringing in other measures, it fell down dramatically on two fronts. The Morrison government failed to order a wide variety of vaccines and it failed to buy enough Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs).
The “vaccine procurement strategy was an unmitigated disaster,” Hamilton and Holden write. This was not just “the greatest failure of the pandemic – it was arguably the greatest single public policy failure in Australian history”.
“We put all our vaccine eggs in just two baskets”, both of which failed to differing degrees. This was “a terrible risk to take. Pandemics are times for insurance, not gambling,” they write.
“And while our tax and statistical authorities marshalled their forces to operate much faster and more nimbly to serve the desperate needs of a government facing a once-in-a-century crisis, our medical regulatory complex repeatedly ignored international evidence and experience, and our political leaders capitulated to their advice. And then the prime minister told us that when it came to getting Australians vaccinated:‘it’s not a race’”.
The failure to order every vaccine on the horizon meant when production or supply problems arose for those that were hoped for or on order, the rollout was delayed.
After this bungle, “stunningly, we turned around and repeated these same mistakes all over again” by not obtaining and distributing freely massive numbers of RATs. In this failure, “our federal government showed the same lack of foresight, the same penny-wise but pound-foolish mindset that it had displayed in the vaccine rollout”.
The authors blame Scott Morrison, then-health minister Greg Hunt, then-chief medical officer Brendan Murphy, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) for the health failures, which prolonged the lockdowns, cost lives and delayed reopening.
Urging better preparation for the next pandemic, Hamilton and Holden have a list of suggestions. They stress we need to ensure we have mRNA vaccine manufacturing capability (on which there is fairly good progress). We must get vaccine procurement “right from the start” regardless of cost. Huge quantities of RATs should be procured as soon as they become available, ready to be used immediately.
A complete overhaul of the medical-regulatory complex should be undertaken. As well, Australia should continue to invest in “economic infrastructure”. In the pandemic, the economic effort was facilitated by having a single touch payroll system. “The first obvious candidate for improvement is a real-time GST turnover reporting capability.”
Perhaps a comprehensive indoor clean air policy could be added to the infrastructure list.
The government’s review will have its own recommendations. Crabb and his colleagues hope they include attention to indoor air quality, following advice from the Chief Scientist and the National Science and Technology Council.
Members of the delegation say they received an attentive hearing from the PM.
Anna-Maria Arabia, chief executive of the Australian Academy of Science, and a member of the delegation, says Albanese “understood that improving indoor air quality is a cornerstone requirement to preparing for future pandemics and [he] was attuned to the practical implications of having good indoor air quality systems, including schools and workplaces being able to stay open and functional, reduce absenteeism and boost productivity”.
What’s needed beyond awareness, however, is timely policy action. Pandemics don’t give much notice of their arrival.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Renovated Zhongchun Garden opens to public in Dingzhou, China’s Hebei
Updated: September 26, 2024 18:04Xinhua
Tourists visit Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province, Sept. 26, 2024. The renovated Zhongchun Garden is officially opened to the public on Thursday in north China’s Hebei Province. The garden, covering an area of 458 mu (30.53 hectares), is a comprehensive scenic spot integrating study tour, entertainment, shopping and catering. Originally built in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1126), Zhongchun Garden was an early public garden of ancient China. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows a view of Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows a view of Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province, Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province, Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province, Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows a view of Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows a view of Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit Zhongchun Garden in Dingzhou, north China’s Hebei Province, Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports. SEL3
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 683 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 640 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of Florida Peninsula Coastal Waters
* Effective this Thursday morning and evening from 640 AM until 800 PM EDT.
* Primary threats include… Several tornadoes likely
SUMMARY…In association with a strengthening Hurricane Helene, conditions will become increasingly favorable for tornadoes today across portions of the Florida Peninsula, in the presence of a very moist air mass and strengthening low-level shear.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 85 statute miles east and west of a line from 20 miles northeast of Ocala FL to 55 miles west southwest of Miami FL. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
&&
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 0 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 16050.
…Guyer
SEL3
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 683 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 640 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of Florida Peninsula Coastal Waters
* Effective this Thursday morning and evening from 640 AM until 800 PM EDT.
* Primary threats include… Several tornadoes likely
SUMMARY…In association with a strengthening Hurricane Helene, conditions will become increasingly favorable for tornadoes today across portions of the Florida Peninsula, in the presence of a very moist air mass and strengthening low-level shear.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 85 statute miles east and west of a line from 20 miles northeast of Ocala FL to 55 miles west southwest of Miami FL. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
&&
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 0 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 16050.
…Guyer
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas. SAW3 WW 683 TORNADO FL CW 261040Z – 270000Z AXIS..85 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE.. 20NE OCF/OCALA FL/ – 55WSW MIA/MIAMI FL/ ..AVIATION COORDS.. 75NM E/W /46W OMN – 47WSW MIA/ WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 500.MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 16050.
LAT…LON 29378057 25497973 25498246 29378340
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU3.
Watch 683 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
High (80%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Headline: FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Scott County Closing Sept. 28, Clay and Sioux Counties Reducing Hours
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Scott County Closing Sept. 28, Clay and Sioux Counties Reducing Hours
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Scott County Disaster Recovery Center, located at 3506 N. Harrison St. Davenport, Iowa, will close permanently on Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. The Disaster Recovery Centers in Clay and Sioux Counties will be open from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday beginning Sept 30.
They are located at:
Clay County
Spencer City Hall
City Council Chambers
101 W. Fifth St.
Spencer, IA 51301
Sioux County
City Park Shelter House
1013 13th Ave.
Rock Valley, IA 51247
Residents can also register for disaster assistance by:
If you had flood related damage or storm-caused expenses or are self-employed and live in Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Scott, Sioux and Woodbury counties, FEMA assistance can provide grants to help cover temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster related needs. U.S. Small Business Administration provides loans to help cover home repairs and other disaster-related needs along with business impacts.
Anyone using a relay service, such as a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA number for that service. For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. Press 2 for Spanish. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
SPC AC 260652
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0152 AM CDT Thu Sep 26 2024
Valid 281200Z – 291200Z
…NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST…
…SUMMARY… Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Saturday.
…Synopsis…
The closed mid/upper low will progress east across the OH/TN Valleys on Saturday, weakening with time. Enhanced southwesterly flow will prevail on the eastern periphery of this system, from parts of northern FL to the Mid-Atlantic. A moist boundary layer will also prevail across parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic vicinity. However, dry midlevels and poor lapse rates will limit instability across much of the region, with the exception being parts of the FL Peninsula. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible across the FL Peninsula, but poor lapse rates, weak instability and only modest effective shear will limit severe thunderstorm potential.
..Leitman.. 09/26/2024
CLICK TO GET WUUS03 PTSDY3 PRODUCT
NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 3 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1930Z
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
SPC AC 260600
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0100 AM CDT Thu Sep 26 2024
Valid 261200Z – 271200Z
…THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR COASTAL AREAS OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA…GEORGIA…AND SOUTH CAROLINA…
…SUMMARY… Several tornadoes will be possible later today into tonight, in association with Hurricane Helene. The greatest threat is expected from parts of Florida into southeast Georgia, the Midlands and Low Country of South Carolina, and southern North Carolina.
…FL/GA into the Carolinas… Hurricane Helene is forecast to move north to north-northeast and accelerate across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, with landfall expected in the Florida Big Bend region this evening. See NHC forecasts and advisories for more information. Increasing low-level flow/shear associated with Helene’s large wind field will overspread the Florida Peninsula this morning, southeast Georgia and parts of SC by this afternoon, and eventually into parts of NC later tonight. Low-level hodographs will become quite large, with 0-1 km SRH increasing into at least the 250-500 m2/s2 range. This will support tornado potential with any low-topped supercells that are able to develop and persist within Helene’s rain bands.
Due to Helene’s large size and fast forward speed, a broad region from Florida and Georgia northward into the Carolinas will see some risk for tornadoes. During the day, Helene’s rain bands will overspread the FL Peninsula, with other outer bands potentially moving inland across parts of GA/SC and eventually NC through tonight. The Enhanced Risk has been maintained and expanded somewhat from extreme northeast FL into coastal GA/SC, where multiple low-topped supercells will be possible within an increasingly favorable environment. Some tornado potential will spread into parts of NC later tonight, with the northern extent of the primary tornado threat still somewhat uncertain and dependent on Helene’s forward speed and track.
…Hudson Valley vicinity into southern New England… An upper low will move eastward across southern Quebec and adjacent portions of New England today. Strong large-scale ascent will aid in the development of convection during the afternoon from southern New England into the Hudson Valley. Lapse rates will be weak and buoyancy modest at best, but enhanced mid-level flow through the base of the upper low will support moderate to strong deep-layer vertical shear. Consequently, a few stronger storms capable of gusty winds are possible, but confidence in sufficient destabilization is too low for severe probabilities at this time.
..Dean.. 09/26/2024
CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT
NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1300Z
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
With the support of Rosneft, the Penza Zoo renovated the walking enclosure for the polar bear named Bely.
The work lasted about a month, during which the floor covering of the site was completely replaced: the old screed was removed, the concrete abutment of the pool bowl was restored, the site was covered with soil, treated with concrete contact, and a self-leveling floor was installed, onto which a particularly strong polyurethane paint was applied.
During the construction work, the polar bear exhibit was closed to visitors, and the White Bear was kept in the feeding enclosure. After the repairs, the bear was released onto the renovated site.
Preservation and protection of the polar bear population is one of the main areas of Rosneft’s environmental program. Since 2013, Rosneft has been caring for all polar bears living in Russian zoos. Currently, the Company patronizes 34 polar bears in 16 zoos in the country, providing them with care, feeding, veterinary support, as well as updating their enclosures and conducting scientific research. With the support of Rosneft, special toys have been developed to increase the physical activity of animals. Several types of products made from particularly durable plastic are sent to zoos every year.
Reference:
Rosneft is conducting research on polar bears as a bioindicator species of Arctic ecosystems. During this time, several large-scale expeditions have taken place, during which specialists have studied the migration routes, numbers and distribution density of these polar predators, and have also conducted various analyses of biological samples.
In September, with the support of Rosneft, an expedition to study and monitor the polar bear population took place on the northwestern coast of the Taimyr Peninsula and the islands of the Kara Sea. Scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences conducted a full-scale census of the distribution of the number of endangered animals during the ice-free period.
The field work is being carried out as part of Rosneft’s biodiversity conservation program, called Tamura. It is being implemented by the Company’s Arctic Research Center. From 2024 to 2027, research is planned on the Taimyr Peninsula of reindeer, birds, and fish in the mouth of the Yenisei River. A total of ten expeditions will be conducted over four years.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft September 26, 2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Sep 26, 2024
Updated: Thu Sep 26 08:18:02 UTC 2024
.
D4 Sun, Sep 29, 2024 – Mon, Sep 30, 2024 D7 Wed, Oct 02, 2024 – Thu, Oct 03, 2024
D5 Mon, Sep 30, 2024 – Tue, Oct 01, 2024 D8 Thu, Oct 03, 2024 – Fri, Oct 04, 2024
D6 Tue, Oct 01, 2024 – Wed, Oct 02, 2024 (All days are valid from 12 UTC – 12 UTC the following day)
Note: A severe weather area depicted in the Day 4-8 period indicates 15%, 30% or higher probability for severe thunderstorms within 25 miles of any point.
PREDICTABILITY TOO LOW is used to indicate severe storms may be possible based on some model scenarios. However, the location or occurrence of severe storms are in doubt due to: 1) large differences in the deterministic model solutions, 2) large spread in the ensemble guidance, and/or 3) minimal run-to-run continuity.
POTENTIAL TOO LOW means the threat for a regional area of organized severe storms appears unlikely (i.e., less than 15%) for the forecast day.
Forecast Discussion
ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 260816 SPC AC 260816
Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0316 AM CDT Thu Sep 26 2024
Valid 291200Z – 041200Z
…DISCUSSION… The upper low over the OH Valley will weaken and become an open wave early next week. Meanwhile, upper troughing across the east will be reinforced through midweek by a shortwave trough developing east/southeast across the Great Lakes. A surface cold front will develop east/southeast across much of the Plains and Midwest through Day 6/Tue. However stronger deep-layer flow will remain displaced well to the north and behind the front. Meanwhile, low-amplitude upper ridging will prevail across the Southwest/Four Corner, while a series of shortwave troughs migrate through more progressive northern stream flow near the international border in the vicinity of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. Overall severe thunderstorm potential appears low during the Day 4-8 period.
Lancaster City Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) have today announced a partnership to invest in and refurbish public park tennis courts in Lancaster.
New life will be breathed into two park tennis venues at Palatine Recreation Ground in Lancaster and Happy Mount Park in Morecambe. The £79,632 renovation will ensure that quality facilities are available for the local community.
The project is part of a nationwide investment delivered by the LTA and supported by the LTA Tennis Foundation, to refurbish public tennis courts across Great Britain, and open-up the sport to many more people.
This investment will see thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country through renovation works, and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems.
Park tennis courts are vital in providing opportunities for children and adults to get active, delivering significant physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits to participants. Accessible facilities in parks are particularly critical to open-up the sport to those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and women and girls.
Lancaster City Council will also work with the LTA to organise weekly, free park tennis sessions for all ages, playing levels and experience – with equipment provided – meaning anyone can play tennis without needing to find someone else to play with or have their own racket. Local Tennis Leagues will also provide friendly, sociable, opportunities to get active through local competition.
Following the completion of renovation works, all courts and sessions will be available to book online via the LTA website http://www.lta.org.uk/play/
Work on both sites is expected to start in January 2025 and be completed by May 2025.
Lancaster City Councillor Joanne Ainscough, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environmental Services, said: “The investment is fantastic news for our district. Parks are vital spaces in our community to support health and wellbeing and the Parks Tennis Project will be a much-welcomed enhancement. We are looking forward to working with the LTA on the project, which will enable local people to gain access to refurbished courts, play tennis and get active.”
Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: “We are delighted to be working with Lancaster City Council to improve their park tennis facilities and provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active. This investment will mean that courts will be available for people to use for years to come. We will also be working closely with Lancaster City Council to ensure that the local community have a range of accessible opportunities to get on court, and open up our sport to many more people.”
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Alexander Novak inspected the exhibition display of equipment and technologies for the fuel and energy complex at the site of the International Forum “Russian Energy Week” (REW)
September 26, 2024
Alexander Novak inspected the exhibition display of equipment and technologies for the fuel and energy complex at the site of the International Forum “Russian Energy Week” (REW)
September 26, 2024
Alexander Novak inspected the exhibition display of equipment and technologies for the fuel and energy complex at the site of the International Forum “Russian Energy Week” (REW)
September 26, 2024
Alexander Novak inspected the exhibition display of equipment and technologies for the fuel and energy complex at the site of the International Forum “Russian Energy Week” (REW)
September 26, 2024
Alexander Novak and participants of the International Forum “Russian Energy Week” (REW) exhibition of equipment and technologies for the fuel and energy complex
September 26, 2024
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Alexander Novak inspected the exhibition display of equipment and technologies for the fuel and energy complex at the site of the International Forum “Russian Energy Week” (REW)
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak inspected the exhibition display of equipment and technologies for the fuel and energy complex at the site of the international forum “Russian Energy Week” (REW). He visited the stands of the United Energy Company, the energy complex of the Moscow government, Mosgaz, the Institute of Oil and Gas Technological Initiatives (INTI), Rosstandart, TD Vzlyot, Transneft, “Gas Stations and Logistics – Innovative Solutions for Business Management”, Pipe Metallurgical Company, as well as the exposition of companies from China.
At the JSC OEK stand, the Deputy Prime Minister was shown a branded Moskvich electric car with a charging station, energy-efficient LED smart lights with built-in lamp control modules, which are currently being installed in Moscow, as well as architectural and artistic lighting devices that transform the facades of the capital’s buildings at night.
The Mosgaz site displays samples of the latest Russian gas distribution equipment and heat supply sources – from design and documentation development to 3D modeling and production of finished products. The gas workers’ exposition features models of a gas control station, a boiler room, and a mobile boiler room.
INTI has established itself as an effective mechanism in import substitution and achieving technological sovereignty of Russia. Its task is to approve and further apply professional standards in the production and procurement activities of oil and gas companies together with representatives of business and government. The institute is also working on the implementation of “road maps” for import substitution adopted within the framework of the Coordination Council for Import Substitution of Oil and Gas Equipment in accordance with the formed action plan.
At the Rosstand, Alexander Novak was shown a model of a laboratory that is part of a universal reference testing center designed to test various products, including electrical equipment, using climatic and resource tests and technical means for electromagnetic compatibility parameters.
TD Vzlet, a Russian developer and manufacturer of devices and systems for metering the flow of liquids, thermal energy and gases, demonstrated the latest models of flow meters for gas metering at REN.
The Transneft site features the latest anti-corrosion equipment that ensures the operation of freight and pipeline transport.
At the stand “Gas stations and logistics – innovative solutions for business management”, Alexander Novak was shown digital solutions for modern gas stations in three areas: logistics, equipment monitoring and gas station management system.
The stand of the companies from China presents products and technical solutions from 15 companies of the friendly country in the petrochemical and gas chemical industry, including equipment, parts and service solutions.
The Pipe Metallurgical Company demonstrated technologies for thermochemical impact on unconventional oil-bearing horizons. This is a well assembly complex for the extraction of hard-to-recover reserves. The solution, developed entirely in Russia, will significantly increase the percentage of hydrocarbon extraction and the profitability of developing hard-to-recover reserves.
In total, the exhibition features stands from 34 participants from various regions of Russia, the Republic of Belarus and China.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Residents across Aberdeen can now apply for a free one-tonne community salt bag to treat icy roads and pavements in their neighbourhood during the winter months.
The applications have been opened earlier than normal this year and, although it has been an unusually warm September, winter is fast coming and the deadline for applying for the one-tonne community salt bags is 31 October, 2024, after which applications will not be processed.
The scheme is designed to help communities help themselves when winter starts and in addition, there will again be big community salt bins in strategic locations around the city.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The weather has just turned autumnal and winter will be here before we know it.
“As always, the Council’s gritting teams will be working hard to treat roads and pavements, often under challenging conditions. On icy days, almost half of Aberdeen’s roads and the city’s busiest pavements on Union Street are treated before 7.30am.
“Unfortunately though, Council staff can’t be everywhere all the time. There are 620 miles of roads in Aberdeen, slightly more than the distance from the city to Paris, and 1,242 miles of pavements, the distance from here to Rome. That’s why the one tonne community salt bag scheme and yellow salt bins are so important – they help local communities to help themselves.”
The one-tonne community salt bags, like the salt provided in grit bins, will be for use only on public areas. A secure and accessible area, like a driveway, would have to be available for storing the one-tonne community salt bags.
Any residents or groups which would like a one-tonne bag should apply via One-tonne salt bags | Aberdeen City Council before 31 October. The community salt bags are delivered free of charge and are removed at the end of winter.
The locations for the big community salt bins are Bridge of Don (Laurel Drive), Garthdee (Asda car park – next to recycling facilities), Torry (Girdleness Road), Union Row, Crown Terrace (next to bins), Justice Street (next to recycling bins), Seaton Drive (car park on entry to Seaton Walk), Regent Court (car park), Northfield (Byron Square), Hilton (at the top of Anderson Road, next to Stewart Park), Rosemount (Leadside Road), Kingswells Park & Ride (next to recycling point and bins), Craibstone Park & Ride (west car park), Bridge of Don Park & Ride (next to recycling point and bins), Countesswells Road, Dyce (Asda car park-next to recycling facilities), Fernhill Drive (near Fernhill Road), Johnston Gardens North (at turning area), Tillydrone (Pennan Road beside the library).
Nominations open tomorrow (Friday 27 September) for candidates to stand in the forthcoming Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election.
The by-election is being held following the resignation of Councillor and former Transport and Environment Convener Scott Arthur.
On Thursday 14 November, Colinton/Fairmilehead residents will go to the polls to select a new councillor to represent the ward which also includes Bonaly, Dreghorn, Oxgangs and Swanston and has a current electorate of 19,226.
Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.
In order to stand as a candidate, individuals must submit nomination papers, which are available on the Council website, by 4pm on Monday 14 October.
Chris Highcock, Depute Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said:
The Notice of Election signifies the official start of the election period for Colinton/Fairmilehead. I would urge all citizens in the ward to make sure they are registered and have their details or preference of how they would like to vote up to date in plenty of time.
Anyone unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 14 November. Details of where these are will be announced shortly.
People aged 16 and over and all those legally resident – including foreign citizens – can register to vote in this election. Find out more about elections in Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.
The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 29 October 2024, to apply for a postal vote the deadline is Wednesday 30 October 2024, and for a proxy vote the deadline is Wednesday 6 November 2024.
Headline: Huawei AI Storage Ranked No. 1 for Performance in 2024 MLPERF AI Benchmarks
[Shenzhen, China, September 26, 2024] MLCommons, the world-leading authority on AI benchmarks, have scored Huawei’s new OceanStor A800 AI Storage top worldwide in its prestigious annual performance test.
MLPERF benchmark suites provide a standardized testing platform to measure the performance of AI hardware, software, and services. The benchmark suites were jointly developed by Turing Award winner David Patterson, Google, Stanford University, Harvard University, and other top enterprises and academic institutions. MLPERF benchmarks are viewed as the world’s most authoritative and influential AI performance benchmarks.
This year’s MLPERF Storage performance tests evaluated 13 mainstream vendors. A distributed training test program simulated GPU compute processes and reproduced a model in which AI servers maximized access to the storage system. Such simulations measure the maximum number of GPUs supported by an AI storage system, which represents overall storage performance.
The MLPERF Storage benchmark for 3D U-Net workload aligns with industry trends for multi-modal models and demands the highest storage bandwidth. It provides a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of storage performance in large-scale AI clusters. The 3D U-Net workload entails the highest storage bandwidth per FLOPS, and requires data be read directly from storage nodes, not cached on hosts in advance. This reflects the actual storage performance and large AI model experiences.
Huawei OceanStor A800 ranked No. 1 in this AI storage performance test, successfully meeting the data throughput requirements of 255 GPUs using just a single storage system. The solution’s GPU utilization was above 90%, while its single controller enclosure achieved a bandwidth of 679 GB/s—ten times greater than that of conventional storage systems.
In addition, OceanStor A800 provides 100 TB/s–level bandwidth through scale-out expansion, reducing the read/write time of checkpoint data from ten minutes to just seconds. The time required for resumable training is under 15 minutes. This minimizes GPU wait times, improves end-to-end computing power utilization by over 30%, and comprehensively enhances the training efficiency of large AI models.
This was Huawei Data Storage’s first-ever participation in the MLPERF Storage v1.0 benchmark testing.
Huawei’s Data Storage team has said it is committed to innovation and that the new OceanStor A series AI storage has been specifically designed for hybrid workloads in AI scenarios. It uses an industry-leading architecture that provides brand-new hardware, excellent performance, EB-level scalability, and long-term memory capabilities for inference. Their aim has been to comprehensively accelerate the training and inference processes of large AI models.
Looking ahead, Huawei’s Data storage team plans to further advance in the realm of large AI models, continually pushing the boundaries of performance and keeping pace with the evolving data landscape to shape the future of data.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has launched an online survey to seek views on future management of demersal fisheries in Celtic Sea and Western Channel.
MMO is leading development of the Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) which covers demersal stocks in English and Welsh waters in ICES areas 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h.
The FMP covers demersal species such as pollack, cod, monkfish/anglerfish, nephrops and skates and rays.
This online survey will help improve our understanding of the fisheries, including gaps in data, current issues and potential future management measures.
This survey will close on 31 January 2025.
Data collected from respondents will be used in the development of the FMP, which will subsequently go to public consultation and is due to be published by the end of 2025.
Anonymised and combined responses to this survey will be summarised with the published FMP documents. Please check out our privacy notice which explains how your data will be collected, stored and used.
Please email the FMP team at FMP@marinemanagement.org.uk if you would like any further information on this FMP.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The UK has sanctioned 5 ships and 2 entities involved in the Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) sector.
The UK has sanctioned 5 ships and 2 entities involved in the Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) sector.
This is the first time the UK is using its new ship specification power to target LNG vessels directly.
Today’s action builds on efforts alongside allies to bear down on Russia’s attempts to bolster its future energy revenues – the most critical source of funding for Putin’s war in Ukraine.
The UK has today, 26 September, taken decisive action to sanction 5 vessels and 2 associated entities involved in the shipping of Russian LNG, including from Russia’s flagship Arctic LNG 2 project.
LNG is an important source of funding for Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine. Russia has plans to expand its LNG revenues, aiming to grow their global LNG market share from 8% to 20%.
Earlier this year, the UK sanctioned Arctic LNG 2, alongside our allies in the US and EU. Since then, the project has been forced to slash production. Today’s action builds on this by targeting ships and entities involved in the Russian LNG sector, which engage with projects important to Russia’s future energy production.
The UK has now sanctioned 15 vessels and entities involved in the Russian LNG sector and we will continue to bear down on this important source of funding for Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.
The vessels sanctioned today are:
PIONEER (IMO 9256602)
ASYA ENERGY (IMO 9216298)
NOVA ENERGY (IMO 9324277)
NORTH SKY (IMO 9953523)
SCF LA PEROUSE (IMO 9849887)
We are also sanctioning the following entities associated with the vessels:
OCEAN SPEEDSTAR SOLUTIONS OPC – The operator and manager of PIONEER and ASYA ENERGY.
WHITE FOX SHIP MANAGEMENT – The operator and manager of NORTH SKY
Notes to Editors
Ships specified under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 are prohibited from entering a port in the UK, may be given a movement or a port entry direction, can be detained, and will be refused permission to register on the UK Ship Register or have its existing registration terminated.
Headline: Huawei AI Storage Ranked No. 1 for Performance in 2024 MLPERF AI Benchmarks
Sep 26, 2024
[Shenzhen, China, September 26, 2024] MLCommons, the world-leading authority on AI benchmarks, have scored Huawei’s new OceanStor A800 AI Storage top worldwide in its prestigious annual performance test.
MLPERF benchmark suites provide a standardized testing platform to measure the performance of AI hardware, software, and services. The benchmark suites were jointly developed by Turing Award winner David Patterson, Google, Stanford University, Harvard University, and other top enterprises and academic institutions. MLPERF benchmarks are viewed as the world’s most authoritative and influential AI performance benchmarks.
This year’s MLPERF Storage performance tests evaluated 13 mainstream vendors. A distributed training test program simulated GPU compute processes and reproduced a model in which AI servers maximized access to the storage system. Such simulations measure the maximum number of GPUs supported by an AI storage system, which represents overall storage performance.
The MLPERF Storage benchmark for 3D U-Net workload aligns with industry trends for multi-modal models and demands the highest storage bandwidth. It provides a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of storage performance in large-scale AI clusters. The 3D U-Net workload entails the highest storage bandwidth per FLOPS, and requires data be read directly from storage nodes, not cached on hosts in advance. This reflects the actual storage performance and large AI model experiences.
Huawei OceanStor A800 ranked No. 1 in this AI storage performance test, successfully meeting the data throughput requirements of 255 GPUs using just a single storage system. The solution’s GPU utilization was above 90%, while its single controller enclosure achieved a bandwidth of 679 GB/s—ten times greater than that of conventional storage systems.
In addition, OceanStor A800 provides 100 TB/s–level bandwidth through scale-out expansion, reducing the read/write time of checkpoint data from ten minutes to just seconds. The time required for resumable training is under 15 minutes. This minimizes GPU wait times, improves end-to-end computing power utilization by over 30%, and comprehensively enhances the training efficiency of large AI models.
This was Huawei Data Storage’s first-ever participation in the MLPERF Storage v1.0 benchmark testing.
Huawei’s Data Storage team has said it is committed to innovation and that the new OceanStor A series AI storage has been specifically designed for hybrid workloads in AI scenarios. It uses an industry-leading architecture that provides brand-new hardware, excellent performance, EB-level scalability, and long-term memory capabilities for inference. Their aim has been to comprehensively accelerate the training and inference processes of large AI models.
Looking ahead, Huawei’s Data storage team plans to further advance in the realm of large AI models, continually pushing the boundaries of performance and keeping pace with the evolving data landscape to shape the future of data.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Fresh beef sample found to contain sulphur dioxide Fresh beef sample found to contain sulphur dioxide **************************************************
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 26) that a fresh beef sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat. The CFS is following up on the case. A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS took the fresh beef sample from a fresh provision shop (FPS) at the Sunshine City market in Ma On Shan for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 13 parts per million. The CFS is following up with the FPS concerned about the irregularity. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be instituted.” According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD), it is an offence to add sulphur dioxide to fresh or chilled meat. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment. Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law and not to sell fresh or chilled meat adulterated with sulphur dioxide. Members of the public should purchase meat from reliable market stalls or FPSs. They should avoid buying or consuming meat which is unnaturally red and maintain a balanced diet to avoid malnutrition or excessive exposure to chemicals from a small range of food items. ???The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.
Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 18:40
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Police will implement special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon to facilitate the National Day Fireworks Display to be held on October 1 (Tuesday).Kowloon——-Crowd safety management measures in Tsim Sha Tsui————————————————- Police will implement crowd safety management measures in Yau Tsim District and Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade, including pedestrianising roads at Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade in phases. Depending on the prevailing crowd situation, Police will implement safety measures within the pedestrianised areas including the closure of pedestrian subways and putting up barriers. One-way flow will be applied on overcrowded footbridges and in the vicinity of the waterfront promenade. If necessary, restrictions on access to MTR stations will be put into force by the MTR Corporation Limited. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the vicinity of the Clock Tower, and the Avenue of Stars are known to be popular gathering and vantage points. When these areas are saturated, the crowd will be diverted to other areas. At present, there are some construction works at the West Kowloon Cultural District. The contractors have erected hoardings and barriers to seal off the area concerned with relevant notices displayed. Members of the public are urged not to enter these sites and not to climb or lean against the barriers. Members of the public should follow the instructions given by Police officers and take heed of Police signage and broadcasts at scene.Special traffic arrangements—————————- The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented by phases until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:A. Road closure and traffic diversionsPhase I (from 6pm onwards) The following roads will be closed:- Eastbound and westbound Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road;- Southbound and northbound Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Metropolis Drive;- Southbound Salisbury Road between Hong Chong Road and Hung Hom Bypass;- Eastbound and westbound Salisbury Road between Science Museum Road and Kowloon Park Drive, including Salisbury Road’s eastbound and westbound underpass;- The U-turn slip road of Salisbury Road leading from eastbound Salisbury Road U-turn to westbound Salisbury Road;- Hong Wan Path;- Mody Lane;- Mody Road;- Mody Square;- Granville Square;- Granville Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road, except for franchised buses and green minibuses (GMBs) (the road will be will be re-routed to one-way eastbound);- Southbound Chatham Road South between Cheong Wan Road and Salisbury Road;- Southbound Chatham Road South between Cheong Wan Road and Granville Road, except for franchised buses and GMBs;- Northbound Chatham Road South between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;- Southbound and northbound Carnarvon Road between Granville Road and Nathan Road;- Hau Fook Street;- Cameron Lane;- Cameron Road;- Humphreys Avenue;- Prat Avenue;- Hart Avenue;- Hanoi Road;- Bristol Avenue;- Minden Row;- Minden Avenue;- Blenheim Avenue;- Middle Road;- Northbound Nathan Road between Austin Road and Salisbury Road;- Southbound Nathan Road between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;- Southbound Kowloon Park Drive between Canton Road and Salisbury Road;- Southbound Canton Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Salisbury Road;- Ashley Road;- Hankow Road;- Lock Road;- Haiphong Road;- Ichang Street; and- Peking Road. During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:- Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Road will be directed from Hung Hom Bypass to Cheong Tung Road South roundabout;- Traffic along eastbound Metropolis Drive cannot turn right to southbound Hung Hom Bypass;- Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Bypass must turn right to westbound Metropolis Drive;- Traffic along westbound Cheong Wan Road leading to Chatham Road South must turn right to northbound Chatham Road South or go straight to westbound Austin Road, except for franchised buses and GMBs;- Franchised buses and GMBs along southbound Chatham Road South must turn left to eastbound Granville Road;- Franchised buses along southbound Nathan Road must turn right to westbound Public Square Street or westbound Jordan Road;- Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left to southbound Canton Road. Vehicles must go straight to Nga Cheung Road direction or turn left to southbound Wui Man Road;- Traffic along southbound Canton Road must make a U-turn to northbound Canton Road outside China Hong Kong City;- Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn left to southbound Canton Road;- Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road must turn left to northbound Kowloon Park Drive;- Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn right to Peking Road;- Westbound Granville Road between Nathan Road and Carnarvon Road will turn to eastbound contraflow. Traffic along southbound Nathan Road will be instructed to turn left to eastbound Granville Road;- Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot turn to Mody Road and Granville Road;- Traffic along southbound Salisbury Road near Hong Chong Road will be diverted to Tsim Sha Tsui East; and- Traffic along eastbound Granville Road must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South.Phase II (from 6.30pm onwards) The following roads will be closed:- Northbound Kowloon Park Drive between Canton Road and Salisbury Road; and- Eastbound and westbound Salisbury Road between Canton Road and Kowloon Park Drive.Phase III (from 7pm onwards) The following roads will be closed:- The U-turn slip road of Austin Road West near the Xiqu Centre leading from westbound Austin Road West U-turn to eastbound Austin Road West;- The first lane of Austin Road West leading to Austin Road West roundabout;- The U-turn slip road of Austin Road West near The Harbourside leading from eastbound Austin Road West U-turn to westbound Austin Road West;- Museum Drive; and- Cultural Drive. During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:- Traffic along eastbound and westbound Austin Road West cannot enter the slip roads of Austin Road West; and- Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road entering Austin Road West roundabout cannot turn to Museum Drive. Vehicles will be directed to eastbound Austin Road West or northbound Nga Cheung Road.Phase IV (from 8.45pm onwards) The following roads will be closed:- Southbound and northbound Nathan Road between Jordan Road and Austin Road;- Eastbound Bowring Street between Pilkem Street and Nathan Road;- Eastbound Tak Shing Street between Tak Hing Street and Nathan Road;- Southbound Nathan Road between Austin Road and Granville Road;- Pine Tree Hill Road;- Hillwood Road;- Carnarvon Road between Kimberley Road and Granville Road;- Shun Yee Street;- Granville Circuit;- Northbound Chatham Road South between Observatory Road and Granville Road;- Kimberley Road between Nathan Road and Observatory Road;- Kimberley Street;- Granville Road between Nathan Road and Chatham Road South;- Southbound and northbound Canton Road between Austin Road and Kowloon Park Drive;- Austin Road West roundabout between the entrance of Austin Road West and the exit and entrance of Museum Drive; and- Southbound and northbound Nga Cheung Road between Jordan Road and Austin Road West. During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:- Traffic along southbound Nathan Road must turn right to westbound Jordan Road;- Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left to southbound Nathan Road;- Traffic along westbound Austin Road and southbound Cox’s Road cannot turn to Pine Tree Hill Road;- Traffic along Observatory Road cannot turn to westbound Kimberley Street;- Traffic along northbound Pilkem Street cannot turn right to eastbound Bowring Street;- Traffic along eastbound Bowring Street must turn left to northbound Pilkem Street;- Traffic along southbound Canton Road cannot go straight. Vehicles must turn left to eastbound Austin Road or turn right to westbound Austin Road West;- Traffic along eastbound Austin Road West cannot turn right. Vehicles must turn left to northbound Canton Road or go straight to eastbound Austin Road;- Traffic along northbound Gateway Boulevard must leave from northbound Kowloon Park Drive;- Traffic along westbound Jordan Road must turn to the Kowloon Station Public Transport Interchange after turning left to southbound Nga Cheung Road;- Traffic along westbound Austin Road West must go straight to Nga Cheung Road elevated road; and- Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road entering Austin Road West roundabout must turn left to eastbound Austin Road West.Contingency plan If necessary, the following roads will be closed:- Hung Luen Road between Wa Shun Street and Hung Lok Road;- Oi King Street; and- Kin Wan Street. During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:- Traffic along westbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to Wa Shun Street;- Traffic along Wa Shun Street must turn right to eastbound Hung Luen Road;- Traffic along southbound Hung Lok Road cannot turn left to eastbound Hung Luen Road; and- Traffic along eastbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to northbound Hung Lok Road.B. Suspension of Bus Terminus and Public Transport Interchange The following Bus Terminus and Public Transport Interchange will be suspended, until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal: The Mody Road Bus Terminus will be suspended from 6pm. The Star Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended from 6.30pm. The China Hong Kong City Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from 8.45pm.C. Suspension of car park Vehicles will not be permitted to access or leave car parks in the affected areas during the road closure period.D. Suspension of on-street parking spaces All on-street parking spaces located at Tsim Sha Tsui South (i.e. South of Austin Road) will be suspended from noon on October 1 to 0.01am of the following day.Hong Kong Island—————-A. Road closurePhase I (Before the fireworks display)Central District————— Tramway Lane outside Lower Peak Tram Station leading from Garden Road to the office of World Wild Fund for Nature Hong Kong will be closed from 2pm to 11.59pm, except for franchised buses.Wan Chai North————– Expo Drive East at the north of Expo Drive outside Golden Bauhinia Square including the pick-up and drop-off areas will be closed from 4pm to 11.59pm. The following roads will be closed from 7.30pm onwards:Central District—————- Man Kwong Street;- Man Fai Street;- Man Yiu Street between Man Kwong Street and Man Po Street;- Loading and unloading area outside Central Ferry Piers 7, 8 and 9; and- Unnamed Road near Lung Wo Road outside General Post Office.Central – Wan Chai Bypass————————- – The slip road linking eastbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass to Expo Drive;- The slip road linking Lung Wo Road to eastbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass; and- The slip road linking westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass to Lung Wo Road.Wan Chai North————— Eastbound Fenwick Pier Street;- Lung King Street;- Eastbound Harbour Road;- Expo Drive;- Expo Drive Central;- Expo Drive East;- Lung Wo Road between Lung Hop Street and Fleming Road;- Lung Tat Path;- Convention Avenue;- Fleming Road Flyover;- Fleming Road between Expo Drive and Harbour Road;- Northbound Tonnochy Road between eastbound Harbour Road and Hung Hing Road;- Southbound Tonnochy Road between Hung Hing Road and Gloucester Road;- Marsh Road between Gloucester Road and Hung Hing Road;- Marsh Road Flyover;- Marsh Road between Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road;- Hung Hing Road;- Hung Hing Road Flyover;- Wan Shing Street; and- Wan Ying Street.Peak Area———- Northbound Peak Road beyond the car park entrance of Peak Galleria, except for residents’ vehicles;- Barker Road, except for residents’ vehicles;- All laybys along Stubbs Road between Peak Road and Stubbs Road roundabout; and- All laybys along Magazine Gap Road between Peak Road and May Road. The following roads will be closed from 8pm onwards:Eastern District————– Watson Road;- Whitfield Road;- Glass Street;- King Ming Road;- Hing Fat Street northward of Whitfield Road; and- Victoria Park Road (Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter). The following roads will be closed from 8.15pm onwards:Central District————— Yiu Sing Street;- Lung Wo Road;- Edinburgh Place;- Tim Wa Avenue;- Legislative Council Road;- Tim Mei Avenue;- Lung Wui Road;- Lung Hop Street;- Unnamed road between Harcourt Road and Performing Arts Avenue;- Performing Arts Avenue; and- Edinburgh Place.Wan Chai North————— Tonnochy Road Flyover;- Northbound Tonnochy Road between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road;- Westbound Harbour Road;- Harbour Drive;- Fleming Road between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road; and- Fenwick Street between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road.Phase II (During the fireworks display) The following roads will be closed from 8.55pm to 9.28pm:Eastern District—————– Westbound Island Eastern Corridor between Victoria Park Road and Man Hong Street, except for franchised buses;- Slip roads leading to westbound Island Eastern Corridor from Healthy Street Central and Tong Shui Road; and- Westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass.Phase III (After the fireworks display) The following roads will be closed from 8.55pm onwards:Central District————— Man Yiu Street between Man Cheung Street and Man Po Street;- Man Po Street; and- Finance Street between Man Yiu Street and Man Po Street.Wan Chai South————— Lockhart Road between Percival Street and Luard Road;- Jaffe Road between Percival Street and Luard Road;- Southbound Luard Road between Gloucester Road and Jaffe Road;- O’Brien Road;- Fleming Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;- Stewart Road;- Tonnochy Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;- Marsh Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;- Canal Road West between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;- Canal Road East between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;- If necessary, Percival Street between Lockhart Road and Gloucester Road; and- If necessary, westbound Gloucester Road service road between Percival Street and Canal Road East.B. Traffic Diversions In connection with the above road closure, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:From 7.30pm onwards:- Rumsey Street between Chung Kong Road and Connaught Road Central will be re-routed to one-way southbound; and- All uphill traffic along Peak Road towards Harlech Road, Lugard Road and Mount Austin Road will be diverted downhill via the slip road beside the car park entrance at the Peak Galleria, except for residents’ vehicles or vehicles with permits.From 8.55pm to 9.28pm: Traffic along westbound Island Eastern Corridor will be diverted to Man Hong Street.From 8.55pm onwards: Traffic along eastbound Connaught Road West Flyover will be diverted to Finance Street.C. Suspension of parking spaces All on-street metered, motorcycle and disabled parking spaces (Meter nos: 3186 to 3188, 3190 to 3193 and 3197) at Tramway Lane outside Lower Peak Tram Station will be suspended from 1pm to 11pm. All on-street parking spaces at Expo Drive East at the north of Expo Drive outside Golden Bauhinia Square will be suspended from 4pm to 11.59pm. All on-street metered and motorcycle parking spaces at Victoria Peak Garden and Mount Austin Road (Meter nos: 1515(A/B) to 1518(A/B), 1523(A/B) to 1526(A/B), 1519A, 1520A, 1521(A/B) and 1522B) will be suspended from 7pm to 11.59pm. All parking spaces at the following locations will be suspended from 3pm to 11.59pm:- Man Kwong Street;- Ying Sing Street;- Lung Wo Road;- Unnamed Road near Lung Wo Road outside General Post Office;- Edinburgh Place;- Lung Wui Road; and- Lung Hop Street. All parking spaces at the following locations will be suspended from 4pm to 11.59pm:- Hung Hing Road;- Expo Drive;- Expo Drive East;- Convention Avenue;- Wan Shing Street;- Gloucester Road service road;- Stewart Road between Jaffe Road and Gloucester Road service road;- Marsh Road between Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road;- Jaffe Road between Percival Street and Luard Road; and- Lockhart Road between Percival Street and Luard Road. All parking spaces at the following locations will be suspended from 7pm to 11.59pm:- Watson Road; and- Whitfield Road.D. Suspension of Public Transport Interchange The Exhibition Centre Station Public Transport Interchange and Man Yiu Street Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from 6.30pm to 11.59pm.E. Suspension of car parks Vehicles parked in car parks within the above closed areas at North Point, Wan Chai North, Wan Chai South and Central District will not be permitted to enter/leave the car parks during the road closure period. If necessary, the vehicular entrance/exit along on westbound Gloucester Road between Paterson Street and Percival Street will be closed without prior notice. Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing. Members of the public are advised to use public transport to access the above areas. They should pay attention to the latest special traffic arrangements announced by the Transport Department and the latest weather news released by the Hong Kong Observatory. Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site. If the cancellation of the fireworks display is announced by the organiser, the above-mentioned crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements will not be implemented.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Specialists from the city services complex have installed more than 70 modern elevators in the capital’s medical institutions. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.
“As part of the implementation of city programs, this year 21 elevators were replaced in clinics undergoing major repairs, and 52 elevators whose service life had reached the end of their service life were replaced in operating hospitals. Healthcare facilities are equipped with new elevator equipment that fully meets safety requirements. The replacement of elevators in hospital buildings was carried out in stages so that employees and patients would not experience difficulties when moving between floors,” noted Petr Biryukov.
Elevators were updated in the City Clinical Hospital (CCH) named after F.I. Inozemtsev, City Clinical Hospital No. 29 named after N.E. Bauman and City Clinical Hospital named after S.S. Yudin.
Lifts for medical institutions are characterized by high load capacity and increased door openings, which allows transporting patients on gurneys and intensive care beds. The cabins are made of high-strength stainless steel, resistant to constant treatment with antiseptics, and are equipped with high-precision stopping systems.
For visitors with limited mobility and patients with hearing and vision impairments, handrails, a device for voice announcements and buttons with Braille alphabet are provided.
The elevators have ventilation and disinfecting UV recirculators, they are equipped with an uninterruptible power supply system and a special evacuation mode: in an emergency, the elevator does not stop, but goes down to the nearest floor and opens the doors. All parts and components are domestically produced, which simplifies maintenance.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: The White House
I am proud to welcome President Zelenskyy back to the White House today. For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my Administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail. In that time, Ukraine has won the battle of Kyiv, reclaimed more than half the territory that Russia seized at the start of the war, and safeguarded its sovereignty and independence. But there is more work to do. That is why, today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war.
Today, I am announcing that:
I have directed the Department of Defense to allocate all of its remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated for Ukraine by the end of my term in office. As part of this effort, the Department of Defense will allocate the remaining Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds by the end of this year. I also have authorized $5.5 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority to ensure this authority does not expire, so that my Administration can fully utilize the funding appropriated by Congress to support the drawdown of U.S. equipment for Ukraine and then replenish U.S. stockpiles.
The Department of Defense is announcing $2.4 billion in security assistance through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which will provide Ukraine with additional air defense, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine’s defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements.
To enhance Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities, I have decided to provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition.
To further strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, I have directed the Department of Defense to refurbish and provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense battery and to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles. This builds on my decision earlier this year to divert U.S. air defense exports to Ukraine, which will provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the next year and will help Ukraine defend its cities and its people.
To build the capacity of Ukraine’s air force, I have directed the Department of Defense to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including by supporting the training of an additional 18 pilots next year.
To counter Russian sanctions evasion and money laundering, the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Secret Service have taken action today to disrupt a global cryptocurrency network, in coordination with international partners. The United States will continue to raise the costs on Russia for its war in Ukraine and to deprive the Russian defense industrial base of resources.
I will convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany next month to coordinate the efforts of the more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
Through these actions, my message is clear: The United States will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war.
Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – Five months of siege and fighting have exhausted the population of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, considered the last stronghold of the Sudanese armed forces in the region (see Fides 5/5/2024), controlled almost entirely by the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. Over one and a half million people are at risk in the city besieged since April-May and in the nearby refugee camp of Zamzam, 15 km south of El Fasher, where about 260 thousand children live, and where malnutrition rates are out of control. The soldiers of a division of the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and militiamen from various local armed groups who oppose the RSF have barricaded themselves in the city. A coalition of heterogeneous forces united only by their common opposition to the RSF but who have so far managed to hold their own against Dagalo’s men. Last week the city was hit by a violent RSF offensive which was barely repelled by the defenders with heavy losses on both sides as shown by satellite photos showing recently dug earth mounds, likely evidence of the construction of mass ditches. Faced with the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in El Fasher, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (a body established in 1987 by the then Organization of African Union, now the African Union) has launched an appeal to stop the fighting. “The African Commission condemns in the strongest terms the atrocities perpetrated against civilians in the context of the ongoing fighting in El Fasher, putting in grave danger the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have found shelter in the city” reads a statement on September 21. “The African Commission calls on the parties to the conflict to cease all acts of violence against civilians and to fully respect the principles of discrimination, necessity and proportionality of international humanitarian law.” The Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations in Sudan has also called on the UN General Assembly to take action by the international community to end the Sudanese conflict that broke out in April 2023. “Sudan is experiencing a man-made food crisis of historic proportions, largely caused by the actions and decisions of the parties to the conflict, in violation of international humanitarian law,” the NGOs said. “As of August 2024, more than 25 million people across Sudan are facing severe acute food insecurity and at least 755,000 people facing catastrophic levels of hunger could die in the coming months without urgent and decisive action by the international community,” they said. Over 10 million people have fled their homes since the conflict broke out in April 2023, making Sudan the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, affecting over 5 million children and over 2 million people, who have crossed borders into neighboring countries. Some health facilities report five child deaths a day. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2024)Share:
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
The Prime Ministerial Decree of 17 September 2024 was published, containing the definition of the content, methods and terms of the information to be transmitted to ENEA and the National Seismic Classification Portal-PNCS to benefit from tax deductions of 110% of documented expenses for energy efficiency interventions and for anti-seismic efficiency interventions.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.